Wolf
Part Four: "Sesshoumaru"
by Vega
When the wolf was found, I had him sent directly to my private office in my home.
I was dealing with a crotchety philanthropist at the time over the phone, so he wolf was forced to wait outside of the heavy cherry doors that lead into my dark-panelled abode. I had made certain that this office, crammed with scrolls and tomes far older than myself even, had been made comfortable and inviting, as I spent a good majority of my days there.
No longer did Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, roam the borders of his estate on four legs, slaying those who would dare infringe upon his ancestral claim. Now he sat behind a desk with a phone attached to his ear, conducting shrewd and sometimes not-entirely-legal business with ningen and youkai alike.
Ah, but when the moon called, I answered and walked as I once did, along the places where my protection and barrier spells faded into those of the other three Regional Taiyoukai. And as I walked I closed my eyes and remembered all those fallen - Rin, inquisitive and bright, completely trusting, lost to a handsome young lord and his soft beckoning hands.
Jakken, the toad demon, who had spat at me in the end, denouncing me as a weakling and declining to serve me further once the Miko and my Half-Brother had purified my heart with the Shikon no Tama and I had sworn off the paths of evil forever.
Of course, becoming a force of good did not remove my violent and possessive streak, and I instead focussed on nurturing the land by performing the necessary sacred rites which I had been previously neglecting, and making sure that my nieces and nephews were reared correctly.
It annoyed Inu Yasha to no end when 'Uncle Sess' arrived unexpectedly at the door of the house that he and the Miko shared on the edge of the forest named for him with yet another new practice sword or quiver of finely made eagle-youkai quill arrows for the pups, and the ever-present pocket-full of sweets.
My half-brother swore a similar vengeance on me when my own pups were born, but alas he did not live to see the day. When his grand-pups were fully grown and seeking mates of their own, Kagome passed into eternity and stung by this separation, Inu Yasha pulled the last of the Shikon no Tama's power into his own body, wished himself human, and died of a broken heart shortly thereafter.
To this day I have not taken a mate of my own, nor have I sired pups. But I am content. I am a long lived creature and have many good decades ahead of me before I must think to settle down. In the meantime, I have Inu Yasha's growing number of progeny to tend to.
Like this Aisilin Volpe.
A direct descendant from Inu Yasha and Kagome's eldest child and only son, Souta, she was the one destined to be The Traveller, and fulfill Kagome's dying prophecy that one of her line would eventually follow her path and visit the past, to supply Sango with the Shikon Shard that had been placed in her womb to prevent Naraku's curse on Miroku to propagate.
Sango and Miroku's daughter, Yumirin, inherited the Shard from her mother, and when she wed Souta and their first daughter was born, Kakera, the Shard for which she was named was passed onto her as well. And thus is went, until Aisilin was pulled backwards in time by her intense wish to save the lives of her demon-slaying ancestors, and was dropped directly in the midst of the battle between Naraku and those who pursued him.
When I had finally finished my phone call with the philanthropist, I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes, steepling my long slender fingers. I took a deep breath through my nose and analysed the scent that seeped under my door jamb - the scent of the wolf.
He was scared, I could tell, as well he should be. There was fear in his scent.
I was Inu Yasha's brother, and the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. Moreover, he knew that I had summoned him here over an issue that had me greatly concerned. What that issue was remained undisclosed to him, and my keen dog-like ears could almost make out the sounds of his brain strumming overtime in an effort to deduce what the problem was.
Along with the sharp sour undercurrent of fear bobbed the sweet and clear scent of hope, and the salty tang of nervousness. There was also the meaty smell of self-confidence and arrogance, but that was accepted as a part of the Wolf Prince's normal musk, just as it had made up a large portion of Inu Yasha's.
He was also wearing a slightly cloying spicy cologne and I wondered if he did so to attract ningen females, or to hide his distinctive youkai scent from other less powerful demons than I.
Satisfied that he had been waiting long enough to keep him unbalanced, I called the helpful young kitsune youkai woman whose desk lay outside my office doors and bid her let him enter.
I expected the doors to slam backwards and Kouga to rush my desk snarling. Instead he waited for the young woman to open one of the doors for him, bowed politely in thanks, and approached me calmly.
If it weren't for his scent, I wouldn't know he was worried at all.
Hm. I allowed myself a small smirk of appreciation, and enjoyed his slight falter when he saw it - a smile on my face was often a precursor to something less agreeable. He stopped a respective distance off, his leather duster held loosely under one arm, and bowed to me.
"Konichiwa, Sesshoumaru-sama," he said softly.
"Konichiwa, Ookami-sama," I said back and gestured for him to sit. He declined with a small shake of his head.
"I thank you, but I am rather more comfortable standing."
My eyes narrowed, but he held his ground. "Fine then," I stood and walked smoothly over to my sideboard. My white hair, bound at the nape of my neck, flowed behind me and I knew it reminded him of my other self, before Kagome purified me - the self that wandered the night followed only by a human child and a toad demon, the self that killed indescriminantly without care. "Sake?"
"No, thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," he bowed again, this time shallower, "I have my car."
"I advise you to accept the sake, and the seat, " I said, my back still turned to him, pouring the tart clear rice wine into a matching set of shallow dishes, "as you will not be leaving here for a while."
I heard his swallow and detected his scent's subtle shift into the sourness of fear.
Good. I wanted him to be afraid of me.
I turned, the small half smile still on my face, and handed him the dish. He sat and threw the liquor back, blue eyes darting all over the room. He was probably looking out for people I had to attack him - I, of course, had made no such preparations. If his answers were not satisfactory, I would rip out his heart myself.
I leaned one hip against my desk and sipped at my own sake until it was gone. Kouga waited me out, licking his lips in nervousness. I then undid my charcoal blazer and folded it carefully and placed it on top of my blotter. My deep red tie followed soon after, and then I rolled up the sleeves of my black silk dress shirt.
I was ready for business, and the wolf knew it.
Sweat beads actually appeared on his forehead.
I crossed my arms over my chest and crossed my ankles as well, looking down my nose at him. He swallowed again, heavily, but I did not offer him water. I did not want him to think he was an honoured guest, for he wasn't.
"If I may be so bold, my Lord," he finally screwed up the courage to say, "for what purpose have I been summoned?"
I inclined my head ever so slightly to the side, letting my ponytail drop onto my leg.
"It is about someone we both know," I said softly, so quiet that I could see him concentrating to catch my words. Yes - he was giving me his full attention. "A hanyou."
"Inu Yasha?" he asked.
"No. A Living one. A female."
His eyebrows drew downwards and I could see him concentrating, trying to think of who I may be referring to.
"You have not seen her in a very long time, I expect," I added, "five hundred years, I'd say."
His black eyebrows immediately reversed direction and went galloping into his hairline. "Sister..." he whispered, and the disbelief was almost tangible. "Aisilin?"
"The young woman was found in the mountains, where your old den used to be, if I recall the report correctly," I paused and narrowed my eyes at him. His own were wide and there was a blush high on his cheeks. "Just nine weeks ago, in fact. She is in hospital now."
Kouga jumped to his feet and bowed so low that I thought perhaps he may have hurt himself by banging his chin on his knees. "Please, my Lord, which hospital!"
I let the question hang unanswered for a few long seconds, until he slowly straightened and dared to meet my gaze.
"...my Lord?" it was less a question than a plea.
"Why should I tell you, wolf?" I asked, settling myself fully onto the edge of my desk.
His mouth worked, but no sound came out. Eventually he said, "...because. My Lord, I have claimed her as my woman. I tracked her for a while in her youth but lost her trail four months ago in the American state of Colorado."
One corner of my lips twitched upwards and he flinched. Been watching over her, had he? That revelation raised him in my esteem, but only slightly. "Did you not claim Kagome, as well? And yet you gave her up. I wonder, if you take this girl and have your way with her, will you honour your claim and make her your mate, even if she is a hanyou? And if you are true to your word, how can I know that it is the girl's free will that brings her to your side?"
Kouga gapped for a few more seconds, and I could see him forcing back tears of confusion and shouts of anger. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself. Then he opened them, and met mine directly, in a challenge. "Because, Sesshoumaru-sama, I love her. And... I think... I hope she loves me too."
There was a pregnant pause. I smelled no deception from him.
I turned away from him, to my desk, and retrieved a scrap of paper. This I handed to Kouga, and he scanned it hungrily. It held the address and room number of the private clinic where Aisilin was sequestered.
"Thank you, my Lord!" he bowed again and snatched up his duster from the arm of the chair and bolted for the door. Before he reached it, however, he remembered himself and turned back to me and dropped to one knee. "I am forever in your debt, Sesshoumaru-sama, and as payment I pledge myself to your service, for whatever purpose you see fit."
I nodded, acknowledging his oath. If he did intend to mate with Aisilin, it was moot - as my nephew-in-law, he would be pledged to my service anyway. I did not voice this fact, however.
The wolf regained his feet once more, pulled his duster on, then paused. "My Lord, one more question, if it pleases?"
I nodded, standing up and brushing off my pants. "Go ahead."
"Why is my Lord so interested in my intentions towards the girl?"
I smiled again, walking around my desk and taking a seat in my wingbacked leather chair. I shuffled through some papers, enjoying his wriggling impatience, then looked up and returned his earlier challenge by looking him straight in the eye.
"Her happiness is very dear to me," I intoned. "When she returned she had been very grievously maltreated, and all signs pointed towards a rapist. The semen found inside her body, Kouga, belonged to you."
The wolf went instantly pale. "My Lord Sesshoumaru! It wasn't me!" I shot him a look of disbelief. "No, I mean, it was ME who... um... I did .... rut with her... but it was her choice! Hell, she started it! ... er... forgive me... but my pack was sheltering her at the time, protecting her from the man who had abused her, from Naraku!"
I favoured him with another look calculated to make him uneasy.
"Please believe me, Sesshoumaru-sama, my intentions towards Aisilin are pure!"
I nodded. "This is what I wanted to hear." I then effectively dismissed him by raising a file folder between us and made as if to begin reading. I heard him turn away and the soft padding of his feet on the thick carpeting. I waited until his hand was on the doorknob before saying, "Kouga."
He turned to look at me, chewing on his bottom lip. "Yes, my Lord?"
"If you hurt her, I will kill you."
"Er... yes, My Lord. But, my Lord, if I may ask...you did not tell my why she is dear to you."
"Why, Kouga," I said, a light mocking tone slipping into my voice as I set down my folder. "I thought you'd have figured it out by now. After all, she has my cheekbones."
"Your... I beg pardon...?" he stammered.
"Aisilin is my great-great-great-great-great-great-grand-niece."
The wolf went even paler still, if it was possible, and bowed low again. "Yes, my Lord. Sayonara, my Lord."
I heard the snick of the door shutting quietly behind him, but by then was already absorbed in the newest request for funding by the arts council to do more than register it in the back of my mind.
~~~
Author's note:
Welcome back, those of you who have found this fic. I didn't advertize it at the end of "Spider" because, frankly, I didn't think it'd exist. You may all thank and or blame Jaye for this, as she wrote a review that said : "I read it in one sitting and when i reached the end i cried out loud SEQUEL! There must be a sequel. Please. I'm begging!" I didn't even consider writing a sequel until I read those words. And then I thought, "No, there's no story left to tell."
Ara, I was wrong. Of COURSE there's a story left to tell - Kouga's.
I'm trying to do it in a new and unique way - telling his through the eyes and tales of everyone else. This instalment of the story, as you've all probably noticed, is not told through the eyes of Aislin as the previous one was, but instead boinces back and forth between her and the other major players. Anyway, I hope I can make this one as interseting as the first - and I'll try really hard to have it done before classes start on Tuesday. ^__^
Enjoy everybody!
Also, please pester your favourite Inu Yasha fanartists - I want to try to find someone willing to do "Spider" (and perhaps "Wolf") as a fancomic. Or, at least, gratify my ego with a little fanart?
Thanks!
--Vega
Reviews:
Sorrow: I'm glad that you appreciate the new story. I'm trying to keep it within the same style of stroytelling as the last one. If you'll notice, each new story I tell is told with a slightly different tone and mood, a different set of vocabulary and images. I try to find a FEEL that's unique for each tale. Compare the tone of "Across Time" to "Spider" and "Ningen". All three are first-person narratives, told from the perspective of a young woman, but all three are also very different.
Aldea: ~_^
Sashlea: JEALOUS! Whatever for? EVERYONE can write well, it just takes time to learn the rules to sculpting plot and sentences, is all! (pha! And I'm hardly the best there is. Lookit SSJ Trinity! I'm still going to classes for it at University... with professionals like Collin Taylor, and Daniel David Moses, even.) I still have a long way to go before my plays and novels are ready to be seen in the light of day - and practicing my writing and storytelling by creating fanfiction is very helpful. Everyone's feedback is even MORE helpful! As for your quesiton about Kouga - that is exactly what this fic will set out to explain, I hope.
Part Four: "Sesshoumaru"
by Vega
When the wolf was found, I had him sent directly to my private office in my home.
I was dealing with a crotchety philanthropist at the time over the phone, so he wolf was forced to wait outside of the heavy cherry doors that lead into my dark-panelled abode. I had made certain that this office, crammed with scrolls and tomes far older than myself even, had been made comfortable and inviting, as I spent a good majority of my days there.
No longer did Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, roam the borders of his estate on four legs, slaying those who would dare infringe upon his ancestral claim. Now he sat behind a desk with a phone attached to his ear, conducting shrewd and sometimes not-entirely-legal business with ningen and youkai alike.
Ah, but when the moon called, I answered and walked as I once did, along the places where my protection and barrier spells faded into those of the other three Regional Taiyoukai. And as I walked I closed my eyes and remembered all those fallen - Rin, inquisitive and bright, completely trusting, lost to a handsome young lord and his soft beckoning hands.
Jakken, the toad demon, who had spat at me in the end, denouncing me as a weakling and declining to serve me further once the Miko and my Half-Brother had purified my heart with the Shikon no Tama and I had sworn off the paths of evil forever.
Of course, becoming a force of good did not remove my violent and possessive streak, and I instead focussed on nurturing the land by performing the necessary sacred rites which I had been previously neglecting, and making sure that my nieces and nephews were reared correctly.
It annoyed Inu Yasha to no end when 'Uncle Sess' arrived unexpectedly at the door of the house that he and the Miko shared on the edge of the forest named for him with yet another new practice sword or quiver of finely made eagle-youkai quill arrows for the pups, and the ever-present pocket-full of sweets.
My half-brother swore a similar vengeance on me when my own pups were born, but alas he did not live to see the day. When his grand-pups were fully grown and seeking mates of their own, Kagome passed into eternity and stung by this separation, Inu Yasha pulled the last of the Shikon no Tama's power into his own body, wished himself human, and died of a broken heart shortly thereafter.
To this day I have not taken a mate of my own, nor have I sired pups. But I am content. I am a long lived creature and have many good decades ahead of me before I must think to settle down. In the meantime, I have Inu Yasha's growing number of progeny to tend to.
Like this Aisilin Volpe.
A direct descendant from Inu Yasha and Kagome's eldest child and only son, Souta, she was the one destined to be The Traveller, and fulfill Kagome's dying prophecy that one of her line would eventually follow her path and visit the past, to supply Sango with the Shikon Shard that had been placed in her womb to prevent Naraku's curse on Miroku to propagate.
Sango and Miroku's daughter, Yumirin, inherited the Shard from her mother, and when she wed Souta and their first daughter was born, Kakera, the Shard for which she was named was passed onto her as well. And thus is went, until Aisilin was pulled backwards in time by her intense wish to save the lives of her demon-slaying ancestors, and was dropped directly in the midst of the battle between Naraku and those who pursued him.
When I had finally finished my phone call with the philanthropist, I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes, steepling my long slender fingers. I took a deep breath through my nose and analysed the scent that seeped under my door jamb - the scent of the wolf.
He was scared, I could tell, as well he should be. There was fear in his scent.
I was Inu Yasha's brother, and the Taiyoukai of the Western Lands. Moreover, he knew that I had summoned him here over an issue that had me greatly concerned. What that issue was remained undisclosed to him, and my keen dog-like ears could almost make out the sounds of his brain strumming overtime in an effort to deduce what the problem was.
Along with the sharp sour undercurrent of fear bobbed the sweet and clear scent of hope, and the salty tang of nervousness. There was also the meaty smell of self-confidence and arrogance, but that was accepted as a part of the Wolf Prince's normal musk, just as it had made up a large portion of Inu Yasha's.
He was also wearing a slightly cloying spicy cologne and I wondered if he did so to attract ningen females, or to hide his distinctive youkai scent from other less powerful demons than I.
Satisfied that he had been waiting long enough to keep him unbalanced, I called the helpful young kitsune youkai woman whose desk lay outside my office doors and bid her let him enter.
I expected the doors to slam backwards and Kouga to rush my desk snarling. Instead he waited for the young woman to open one of the doors for him, bowed politely in thanks, and approached me calmly.
If it weren't for his scent, I wouldn't know he was worried at all.
Hm. I allowed myself a small smirk of appreciation, and enjoyed his slight falter when he saw it - a smile on my face was often a precursor to something less agreeable. He stopped a respective distance off, his leather duster held loosely under one arm, and bowed to me.
"Konichiwa, Sesshoumaru-sama," he said softly.
"Konichiwa, Ookami-sama," I said back and gestured for him to sit. He declined with a small shake of his head.
"I thank you, but I am rather more comfortable standing."
My eyes narrowed, but he held his ground. "Fine then," I stood and walked smoothly over to my sideboard. My white hair, bound at the nape of my neck, flowed behind me and I knew it reminded him of my other self, before Kagome purified me - the self that wandered the night followed only by a human child and a toad demon, the self that killed indescriminantly without care. "Sake?"
"No, thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," he bowed again, this time shallower, "I have my car."
"I advise you to accept the sake, and the seat, " I said, my back still turned to him, pouring the tart clear rice wine into a matching set of shallow dishes, "as you will not be leaving here for a while."
I heard his swallow and detected his scent's subtle shift into the sourness of fear.
Good. I wanted him to be afraid of me.
I turned, the small half smile still on my face, and handed him the dish. He sat and threw the liquor back, blue eyes darting all over the room. He was probably looking out for people I had to attack him - I, of course, had made no such preparations. If his answers were not satisfactory, I would rip out his heart myself.
I leaned one hip against my desk and sipped at my own sake until it was gone. Kouga waited me out, licking his lips in nervousness. I then undid my charcoal blazer and folded it carefully and placed it on top of my blotter. My deep red tie followed soon after, and then I rolled up the sleeves of my black silk dress shirt.
I was ready for business, and the wolf knew it.
Sweat beads actually appeared on his forehead.
I crossed my arms over my chest and crossed my ankles as well, looking down my nose at him. He swallowed again, heavily, but I did not offer him water. I did not want him to think he was an honoured guest, for he wasn't.
"If I may be so bold, my Lord," he finally screwed up the courage to say, "for what purpose have I been summoned?"
I inclined my head ever so slightly to the side, letting my ponytail drop onto my leg.
"It is about someone we both know," I said softly, so quiet that I could see him concentrating to catch my words. Yes - he was giving me his full attention. "A hanyou."
"Inu Yasha?" he asked.
"No. A Living one. A female."
His eyebrows drew downwards and I could see him concentrating, trying to think of who I may be referring to.
"You have not seen her in a very long time, I expect," I added, "five hundred years, I'd say."
His black eyebrows immediately reversed direction and went galloping into his hairline. "Sister..." he whispered, and the disbelief was almost tangible. "Aisilin?"
"The young woman was found in the mountains, where your old den used to be, if I recall the report correctly," I paused and narrowed my eyes at him. His own were wide and there was a blush high on his cheeks. "Just nine weeks ago, in fact. She is in hospital now."
Kouga jumped to his feet and bowed so low that I thought perhaps he may have hurt himself by banging his chin on his knees. "Please, my Lord, which hospital!"
I let the question hang unanswered for a few long seconds, until he slowly straightened and dared to meet my gaze.
"...my Lord?" it was less a question than a plea.
"Why should I tell you, wolf?" I asked, settling myself fully onto the edge of my desk.
His mouth worked, but no sound came out. Eventually he said, "...because. My Lord, I have claimed her as my woman. I tracked her for a while in her youth but lost her trail four months ago in the American state of Colorado."
One corner of my lips twitched upwards and he flinched. Been watching over her, had he? That revelation raised him in my esteem, but only slightly. "Did you not claim Kagome, as well? And yet you gave her up. I wonder, if you take this girl and have your way with her, will you honour your claim and make her your mate, even if she is a hanyou? And if you are true to your word, how can I know that it is the girl's free will that brings her to your side?"
Kouga gapped for a few more seconds, and I could see him forcing back tears of confusion and shouts of anger. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself. Then he opened them, and met mine directly, in a challenge. "Because, Sesshoumaru-sama, I love her. And... I think... I hope she loves me too."
There was a pregnant pause. I smelled no deception from him.
I turned away from him, to my desk, and retrieved a scrap of paper. This I handed to Kouga, and he scanned it hungrily. It held the address and room number of the private clinic where Aisilin was sequestered.
"Thank you, my Lord!" he bowed again and snatched up his duster from the arm of the chair and bolted for the door. Before he reached it, however, he remembered himself and turned back to me and dropped to one knee. "I am forever in your debt, Sesshoumaru-sama, and as payment I pledge myself to your service, for whatever purpose you see fit."
I nodded, acknowledging his oath. If he did intend to mate with Aisilin, it was moot - as my nephew-in-law, he would be pledged to my service anyway. I did not voice this fact, however.
The wolf regained his feet once more, pulled his duster on, then paused. "My Lord, one more question, if it pleases?"
I nodded, standing up and brushing off my pants. "Go ahead."
"Why is my Lord so interested in my intentions towards the girl?"
I smiled again, walking around my desk and taking a seat in my wingbacked leather chair. I shuffled through some papers, enjoying his wriggling impatience, then looked up and returned his earlier challenge by looking him straight in the eye.
"Her happiness is very dear to me," I intoned. "When she returned she had been very grievously maltreated, and all signs pointed towards a rapist. The semen found inside her body, Kouga, belonged to you."
The wolf went instantly pale. "My Lord Sesshoumaru! It wasn't me!" I shot him a look of disbelief. "No, I mean, it was ME who... um... I did .... rut with her... but it was her choice! Hell, she started it! ... er... forgive me... but my pack was sheltering her at the time, protecting her from the man who had abused her, from Naraku!"
I favoured him with another look calculated to make him uneasy.
"Please believe me, Sesshoumaru-sama, my intentions towards Aisilin are pure!"
I nodded. "This is what I wanted to hear." I then effectively dismissed him by raising a file folder between us and made as if to begin reading. I heard him turn away and the soft padding of his feet on the thick carpeting. I waited until his hand was on the doorknob before saying, "Kouga."
He turned to look at me, chewing on his bottom lip. "Yes, my Lord?"
"If you hurt her, I will kill you."
"Er... yes, My Lord. But, my Lord, if I may ask...you did not tell my why she is dear to you."
"Why, Kouga," I said, a light mocking tone slipping into my voice as I set down my folder. "I thought you'd have figured it out by now. After all, she has my cheekbones."
"Your... I beg pardon...?" he stammered.
"Aisilin is my great-great-great-great-great-great-grand-niece."
The wolf went even paler still, if it was possible, and bowed low again. "Yes, my Lord. Sayonara, my Lord."
I heard the snick of the door shutting quietly behind him, but by then was already absorbed in the newest request for funding by the arts council to do more than register it in the back of my mind.
~~~
Author's note:
Welcome back, those of you who have found this fic. I didn't advertize it at the end of "Spider" because, frankly, I didn't think it'd exist. You may all thank and or blame Jaye for this, as she wrote a review that said : "I read it in one sitting and when i reached the end i cried out loud SEQUEL! There must be a sequel. Please. I'm begging!" I didn't even consider writing a sequel until I read those words. And then I thought, "No, there's no story left to tell."
Ara, I was wrong. Of COURSE there's a story left to tell - Kouga's.
I'm trying to do it in a new and unique way - telling his through the eyes and tales of everyone else. This instalment of the story, as you've all probably noticed, is not told through the eyes of Aislin as the previous one was, but instead boinces back and forth between her and the other major players. Anyway, I hope I can make this one as interseting as the first - and I'll try really hard to have it done before classes start on Tuesday. ^__^
Enjoy everybody!
Also, please pester your favourite Inu Yasha fanartists - I want to try to find someone willing to do "Spider" (and perhaps "Wolf") as a fancomic. Or, at least, gratify my ego with a little fanart?
Thanks!
--Vega
Reviews:
Sorrow: I'm glad that you appreciate the new story. I'm trying to keep it within the same style of stroytelling as the last one. If you'll notice, each new story I tell is told with a slightly different tone and mood, a different set of vocabulary and images. I try to find a FEEL that's unique for each tale. Compare the tone of "Across Time" to "Spider" and "Ningen". All three are first-person narratives, told from the perspective of a young woman, but all three are also very different.
Aldea: ~_^
Sashlea: JEALOUS! Whatever for? EVERYONE can write well, it just takes time to learn the rules to sculpting plot and sentences, is all! (pha! And I'm hardly the best there is. Lookit SSJ Trinity! I'm still going to classes for it at University... with professionals like Collin Taylor, and Daniel David Moses, even.) I still have a long way to go before my plays and novels are ready to be seen in the light of day - and practicing my writing and storytelling by creating fanfiction is very helpful. Everyone's feedback is even MORE helpful! As for your quesiton about Kouga - that is exactly what this fic will set out to explain, I hope.